A Master of Djinn

After turning over the mask and hair, Fatma goes to the Jasmine, where Benny, her musician friend, tries to comfort her. Sensing her distress relates to Siti, when Fatma asks his opinion on lovers keeping secrets, Benny says, “we hide [deep secrets] away because we’re afraid what other people might think […] Everybody got secrets” (234). Still low in spirits, she leaves, soon calling out with little patience to whoever is following her. Ahmad steps forward.

He asks about her, saying he can see into her spirit. She spills her troubles in hunting down the impostor, and Ahmad, surprised, offers her his cigarette. He assures her that he didn’t know about Siti, and Fatma assures him she’ll continue working the case. Before he leaves, she asks about his transformation, whether becoming like the god inside him was his choice. He responds, “When you have faith, it really doesn’t matter” (237).

Fatma heads home to find her doorman seems to have doubled. They are twin brothers, in fact, who secretly trade off working as the doorman in exchange for a place to sleep; the landlord pays them generously thinking one man does the job. Promising to keep their secret, Fatma goes to her apartment, where she finds Siti, who confesses to being part djinn.